Humor & Inspiration in Writing: Four Steps Away From the Cliff

Allison Maruska:
Author, Blogger, Mama, Coffee Enthusiast

Dealing with drama is something we in the Writing World refer to as part of the business. I've faced my share of annoyances, disappointments, and overwhelming urges to chuck the laptop off the balcony. (Especially the demon laptop of yesteryear...)

Allison Maruska, today's Humor & Inspiration guest, will tackle the topic of dealing with writer drama head on. But first, a bit of background on Allison. The author of several books, Allison is also a teacher, wife, mama, and humor blogger. She's an adorable human being and always up for a chat and a bit of writer mentoring. Without any further ado, here she is!

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First, I want to thank Sarah for allowing me to use her space to espouse my mostly nonsensical banter. When she messaged me a list of suggestions for a topic, one (or a combination of two, rather) stood out to me: what do I do on those days I want to throw my laptop off a balcony and/or jump off a cliff?

And this is where the post ends, because neither of those things has happened to me.

*sobs into tin of chocolate I’m currently binge eating*

Of course I have those days. Everyone who has created anything in the history of ever has those days. 

I call them quit days.

Quit days are the magical combination of non-productivity and irrationality. They somehow blur any kind of accomplishment you’ve had and rub your face in the mess of criticism, poor sales, or general lack of “the groove.” Quit days make taking a janitorial night shift position at Costco appealing.  I bet it’s easy to see and measure success there.

My most recent quit day lasted three days, when usually they are closer to a literal day.  Those other days could be the result of a bad night’s sleep or bad nutrition or…you know, hormones. On those days, everything I write sucks and my social media presence sucks and no one cares what I do and…somebody call the whambulance!

I make light of these days because they aren’t rational and may not be connected to any concrete event. I’m not talking about those days when you get a tough critique or an editing letter or yet another agent rejection. These are real things that happen and you legit feel crappy about them. But more often than not (at least for me), after a brief period of self-deprecating malaise, I launch back into the task at hand with a renewed sense of purpose.

But what if there are more to quit days than single events or a bad mood?

Back to my three-day quit day marathon. It was spawned by a combination of factors that on their own wouldn’t have bothered me for long. But by the end of the first day I felt pelted in the face by rocks. Big rocks. With points and jags that pelted me with their pointy jags. By the end of day three, I finally did the things I’m about to tell you, the things I knew help me cope with quit days.

Step 1: Step away

You gotta gain some perspective, and that’s tough to do when you’re swimming in the problem. Go for a walk. Take the significant other or your bestie out to dinner. Netflix binge. Anything that’s not a writerly thing, at least for an evening.

Step 2: Indulge a little

There’s a reason I said “tin of chocolate” at the beginning of the post. Find a guilty pleasure and tap into it. Quit days aren’t forever, so you need not feel guilty. Get a few endorphins moving.

Step 3: Do something active

Exercise is also great at getting endorphins moving, and if you hate it you’ll be distracted from your quit day. You’ll be looking for the cliff to launch yourself from, but it will be for a different reason.

Step 4: Talk to a trusted friend

I started here on my three-day experience, and I should have done it on day 1. We both have labeled these days “quit days,” so he speaks my language and told me to do steps 1-3 after he let me vent for a while. Your friend won’t judge you for your quit day because everyone has them.

So I hope when quit days come knocking, you’ll see them as annoying yet temporary elements of your creative life. 

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Allison Maruska's debut novel, The Fourth Descendant, was released on February 4, 2015 and has figured on Amazon best seller lists. Her YA urban fantasy called Drake and the Fliers was released in November, 2015, and is proving to be a fan favorite.

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Thanks for taking over the blog, Allison! We all have awful days when carrying on seems pointless. And though your brain knows it doesn't make sense to give up, it seems the most rational course of action. Here's to holding it together, reaching out for support, and carrying on like champs! So friends, if you ever need anyone to chat with, drop me a message, because I've been there. 

Also, you can always connect with Allison Maruska:
Author Website & Blog
Facebook Author Page
Allison Maruska on Twitter

Need more inspiration or humor? Read our other amazing writers, authors, and bloggers from the Humor & Inspiration Features: 

Lydia Thomas: No, I Won't Write Your Memoirs 
Prairie Wife in Heels 
Anne Goodwin: When Words Behave Like Toddlers 
Terry Tyler: Art Inspires Life
Kaley Tallman: Abandoning the Comfort Zone
Heidi Doxey: British Book Invasion
Carol J. Hedges: So You've Published a Book...
Colleen M. Story: Writers with Personality
Tamara Copley: The Magic of Humor

Sarah E. Boucher: Beating the Blaaahs

Jenniffer Wardell: All the Best Jokes

Thanks for dropping by, lovely readers!